Malice

Malice is currently streaming in Australia on Amazon Prime Video, and in the UK on Amazon Prime Video, and its case-by-case structure never gets in the way of the bigger story. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. 515 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Alec Baldwin leads a cast that carries the story without ever feeling mechanical. Put it on tonight on Amazon Prime Video and see for yourself.

Malice arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. The plotting gives Malice its backbone, but it is the characters you come back for. A tale about a happily married couple who would like to have children. Tracy teaches infants, Andy's a college professor. Things are never the same after she is taken to hospital and operated upon by Jed, a "know all" doctor. Alec Baldwin and Nicole Kidman lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1993. Malice is at its best in the quiet scenes between the plot beats, where the character work actually happens. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Crime and mystery fans will find exactly what they are after in Malice. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Alec Baldwin anchors it, but the writing does the real work. If you are going to commit to one crime drama this month, make it this one.